Marred by controversies and under sustained pressure from writers across the country,the Bharatiya Jnanpith may sack its director,Ravindra Kalia,who is also editor of prestigious journal Naya Gyanodaya,at an urgent meeting on Monday. Jnanpith as well as Kalia have drawn flak for his editorial,praising Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University V-C Vibhuti Narain Rais comments to the journal that women writers were in a race to show themselves as the greatest prostitute. Soon after,Rai was sacked from the panel that chooses Jnanpith awardees. The axe is now likely to fall on Kalia as Jnanpith chairperson Indu Jain is said to be in favour of a strict action to set an example for future. We are very much concerned about the issue and will take required action to protect the institution, said Jnanpith Managing Trustee Akhilesh Jain. And with prominent writers in the country are unhappy with Jnanpith,Kalias sacking is almost certain. More than 200 of them,including Janpith awardee Kunwar Narain,Krishna Baldev Vaid,Namita Gokhle and Mukul Kesvan,have signed a petition,seeking removal of Kalia,under whom the institution has undergone systematic degradation. In an unprecedented move,several writers,including Sahtiya Academy winners Ashok Vajpeyi and Giriraj Kishore have already withdrawn their books from Jnanpith in protest,accusing the institution of defiling its glorious tradition by promoting cheap sensationalism and feudal tendencies. In another snub to Jnanpith,another Academy winner Namvar Singh,who was appointed in the place of Rai in a face-saving exercise,has declined to take up the post. The credibility of Jnanpith is at the lowest ebb in its entire history today. Ideally,Kalia should have resigned himself,but if he doesnt,the trust must sack him to protect the institution, said noted writer Krishna Sobti. I hope the Jnanpith trust takes proper action to protect its prestige and credibility, said trustee and former Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi. Kalia could not be reached for comments.
